Category: Armed Robbery

A Timeline of Events in Saturday's Police Investigation at James Caldwell High School

2/25/2018

by Carolyne Volpe Curley / Carolyne@WestEssexNOW.com
Published 10:30pm

WEST CALDWELL, NJ - On Saturday, Feb. 24, West Caldwell Police and police from the surrounding West Essex community responded immediately to James Caldwell High School on reports of an individual possibly at the school with a gun.

What follows is a timeline of events which eventually led to the arrest of former student Michael Schmitt, 18, of West Caldwell.

Michael Schmitt

Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018

2:16pm

A call came into West Caldwell Police from a student at James Caldwell High School stating that she had received a Tweet from a student with a gun displayed in his photo, along with a disturbing soundclip
The student and many of her classmates were present at the school to participate in the school's annual Music Marathon which was scheduled to take place until 6pm
Within seconds a call went out, first to West Caldwell patrol units, and then to all West Essex police patrol units, asking them to report to the school to investigate the possible presence of a handgun
The female student sent a copy of the Tweet to her mother who contacted a school administrator

Besides the threatening photograph of a male holding a gun, police were also presented with a recording which was attached to it, presumably recorded by the same male
- The recording was attached to the image shown above which specified JCHS, the initials of the high school
- In the recording, the male is screaming a highly explicit and violent verbal attack against either a specific female or females in general
- The recording can be found online here under the user name illschmitt

2:17pm

Patrol units from West Caldwell Police, Caldwell Police, Essex Fells Police, Fairfield Police and North Caldwell all responded to the school and formed a perimeter around the exterior
A West Caldwell officer who had gone inside of the school reported that all appeared normal

2:19pm

The school administrator and the student's mother met a West Caldwell officer outside of the building and displayed the content of the Tweet

2:22pm

School Administration asked students and guests to report immediately to the auditorium
Performers for the music production all reported to a music room where they went into a practiced locked down, which included:
- door locked
- lights off
- staying silently in a closet
- or lying down on the floor
- windows locked and shades drawn

2:23pm

Four armed West Caldwell officers began an interior inspection of the school, in practiced formation
The entire outside exterior perimeter of the school was declared "locked down" and waiting patrols units surrounded the school in a protective formation

2:38pm

A search of all of the hallways in each wing and all of the unlocked rooms in the building was completed and declared safe
Police asked for a custodian to unlock the other classrooms

2:48pm

A group of Students from the auditorium were led out of the building to the safety of the waiting exterior patrol units

2:49pm

A second group of Students from the Auditorium were led out to safety

2:55pm

The Custodian was located and an inspection of the locked rooms began

2:58pm

A third group of Students from the locked down room were led out to safety

2:59pm

A fourth group of Students from the locked down room were led out to safety

3pm

The school was turned over to the school administration
All mutual aid police were released from protective duty

West Caldwell Police Chief Gerard Paris then released the following statement:

West Caldwell Police was notified
of a potential threat at the high school.
Officers were sent to investigate and administrators
put the school in to a lock down as a precaution.
No danger was found to the students.
Our investigation continues.

Michael Schmitt PHOTO: Essex County Jail

On Sunday, afternoon, Paris then stated the following information about Saturday's incident:

The West Caldwell Police received a report of a threatening message which was sent through social media during the school's Music Marathon
Caldwell, Essex Fells, Fairfield and North Caldwell all assisted West Caldwell Police while the school was placed on lock down and no threats were found
Police tied Michael Schmitt to the social media post and took him into custody
Schmitt was charged with False Public Alarm, 2nd Degree
Schmitt was brought to the Essex County Jail and is awaiting a hearing

The following notice was then sent out to parents from the school administration:

Dear JCHS Students and Parents/Guardians,

I know many of you have been waiting for additional details regarding yesterday's lockdown and tomorrow's school procedures. I have been in close contact with the West Caldwell Police and here is some of the information that I now have permission to share with you.

The student who posted the threatening message and song on social media was arrested, is in the Essex County Jail and is awaiting a hearing (which will not happen until tomorrow afternoon).
This student acted alone.
The student was never on the JCHS campus on Saturday,
- he never indicated having plans to go to the JCHS campus or hurt random people at the high school,
- but since "JCHS" was in his post, the building was put into lockdown.
- Fortunately, the police quickly had the boy in custody.
The West Caldwell Police confirmed that there is no threat to the high school and it is safe to have school on Monday.
Although there is no threat to the school, we will have an increased police presence at the school tomorrow so students, faculty, and parents feel more secure.
As far as procedures at our school tomorrow, there will be a few slight adjustments:
- We will be cancelling 7:10 classes tomorrow so I have time to speak with the teachers before they start their school day. Zero labs will meet tomorrow.
- Since there will not be 7:10 classes, we are asking that no student arrive at school before 7:45 a.m. tomorrow.
- We also want all students to enter the building in the morning through the Athletic Lobby doors or the Auditorium Lobby doors.
- Again, there is no threat, but we will have administrators at both entrances so we see if anyone seems upset or nervous, and be a resource if needed.
- Students may still be dropped off on Park Street, but those students will have to walk to the front of the building to enter.
- Detective Mazzeo and I will be meeting with the music students during mod 1-2 and mod 3-4 to help bring closure to this event.

After the Parkland shooting, Detective Mazzeo and I decided to meet with every student to review our security procedures and answer questions. We planned to meet tomorrow to develop a schedule because I wanted these meeting to be with relatively small groups to make sure all students are heard. We still plan to have these security meetings, but if any student would like to speak with either of us sooner, please see me or send an email.

I know that despite the assurances of the West Caldwell Police, some students are still nervous about coming to school tomorrow, I hope this additional information makes most of you feel more comfortable and secure. Certainly, the police presence tomorrow will make it one of the safest days to come to school.

As I mentioned in my email on Saturday, I regret that our students had to experience this lockdown, but I am proud of the actions of our students, faculty, administrators, and the West Caldwell Police.
Please contact me with any questions.

Sincerely,
Jim Devlin
Principal
James Caldwell High School
973-228-6981

While the investigation continues, West Caldwell Police are asking anyone who has information about this matter to contact them at:
973-226-4114.

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Ali Muhammad Brown Indicted Thursday on Brendan Tevlin Felony Murder and Terrorism Charges; Charges Against Co-Defendants Dropped

7/2/2015

Carolyne@WestEssexNOW.com

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ - On Thursday, an Essex County Grand Jury returned a nine-count indictment charging Ali Muhammad Brown, 30, of Seattle with two counts of terrorism, one count of murder and other charges for the 2014 killing of Brendan Tevlin, 19, of Livingston. Brown, a self-described Muslim, is the first person in New Jersey to be indicted under the terrorism statute.

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray dismissed the charges against two co-defendants, Eric Williams, 19, and Jeremy Villagran, 20, both of West Orange, who were arrested and also charged in August of 2014 with Brown.

“As the investigation continued, evidence was developed,
including evidence subsequent to arrest, which led to the decision
to seek terrorism charges against Brown,’’ said Murray.

Charges
Ali Muhammad Brown is charged with the following:

Terrorism
Murder
Felony murder
Carjacking
Robbery
Multiple weapons offenses
Possession of hollow point bullets

Criminal Investigation
The murder took place on June 25, 2014 when Tevlin, home after completing his freshman year at the University of Richmond was shot multiple times while stopped at a traffic light at Walker Road and Northfield Avenue in West Orange. Shortly before the murder, Tevlin contacted a family member to let them know he was on his way home after visiting friends. The investigation into the murder remains active and ongoing.

Arraignment
Brown is expected to be arraigned on Aug. 4, before the Honorable Ronald D. Wigler, Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division.

Further Reading:

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Fairfield Police Continue Investigation into Tuesday's Attempted Armed Robbery at Dunkin Donuts

6/4/2015

by Carolyne Volpe Curley / Carolyne@WestEssexNOW.com
Published 4pm

FAIRFIELD, NJ - Today, Fairfield Deputy Police Chief Anthony Manna confirmed that police are continuing to investigate the attempted armed robbery at the Dunkin Donuts located at 378 Passaic Avenue, Fairfield. According to Manna, the Dunkin Donuts staff locked the take-out window and doors and then hid in a backroom while a male waving a gun was at the window. The suspect then left the area in his car. Reports of the incident came in at about 10:41pm Tuesday evening.

Description
According to police, the suspect is described as:

White or Hispanic male
with facial hair
navy blue hooded sweater
driving a dark-colored sedan

Manna explained that the individual reportedly first went into the store, used the restroom, and then went back outside to stand beside his car in the parking lot.

"His actions were observed by an alert employee of the Dunkin Donuts who
continued to watch him acting suspiciously outside of the store," Manna said.

Apparently, the suspect then started to walk towards the drive up window while waving a handgun. As this was happening, the employee alerted his co-workers who immediately locked all of the doors and the drive-up window and then hid in a back room. The suspect then fled in a vehicle.

Contact
Anyone with information should contact Fairfield Police Detective Robert Sanger, who is conducting the investigation, at 973-227-1400.

Further Reading

Little Falls Police Alert Public to Early Monday Armed Robbery of Route 23 7 Eleven

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A Timeline of Events in Saturday's Police Investigation at James Caldwell High School

Ali Muhammad Brown Indicted Thursday on Brendan Tevlin Felony Murder and Terrorism Charges; Charges Against Co-Defendants Dropped

Fairfield Police Continue Investigation into Tuesday's Attempted Armed Robbery at Dunkin Donuts

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